One morning, my father called: “Hey Ken, why is my trail camera not taking pictures any longer? Days ago it still worked properly.” Well, I did run into such the case before so I just guide him through several steps to check the issue out. That time, it was due to the SD card problem. […]

One morning, my father called: “Hey Ken, why is my trail camera not taking pictures any longer? Days ago it still worked properly.” Well, I did run into such the case before so I just guide him through several steps to check the issue out. That time, it was due to the SD card problem.

Unfortunately, the trail camera is suddenly not shooting pictures or even not working is frequent and can be resulted from whatever reasons.

Why Is My Trail Camera Not Taking Pictures Properly?

Here below I pinpoint 5 most common troubleshooting and how to fix quickly.

Battery Issues

Run-out batteries cause your trail camera not taking pictures

When you detect a malfunction such as a trail camera not taking pictures, the very first to check is the battery: whether its power is completely eaten up. Most cameras will automatically turn out in the event of low energy.

Some argue they already charge the battery with 100%, so it is impossible that it run out for just a few days. Actually, several reasons are causing the battery life of your trail cameras being inferior:

Using rechargeable batteries: As convenient as it might be, rechargeable batteries are a terrible idea for the trail camera. Those batteries often have a lower voltage. Also, how to charge the battery is just as critical. Cheap chargers usually overcharge the battery and ruin its durability. Hence, you had better use the lithium or alkaline battery. If using the rechargeable one, please check its capacity carefully to ensure it is compatible with the camera. And, remember to purchase a smart and official charger.

Purchasing cheap and unofficial batteries or chargers: It is a misunderstanding that all trail camera batteries are the same. Do not save money on the cheap since they will not work properly in cold weather and often cause the battery to die soon. Make sure that you use branded batteries, or at least, the type recommended by the manufacturers. Besides, all batteries must have the same type and brand to avoid acid leaking.

Setting too many modes: Sometimes, it is not the battery quality itself but your configurations in advance. You should set up the trail camera wisely to ensure that the camera only captures wanted photos and videos.

False Trigger Settings

Another reason for the question “why is my trail camera not taking pictures properly?” is the possibly false triggers. Some think the faster the trigger time is, the better trail cameras become. It is not always the truth. Too sensitive PIR sensors capture hundreds of blank pictures without specific subjects since they mistake motions and heat in front of the camera lens. As a result, your SD card is filled up, and the battery is eaten up quickly. When you come back to check the result, not only do you get trash photos but the trail camera is not taking pictures as well.

SD Card Issues

If you have replaced batteries and checked the triggers but the trail camera not taking pictures continues, then check the SD card. Take the follows into account:

Right SD card keeps trail camera from not taking photos

Full SD memory card: Sometimes the camera shoot more photos or videos than your expectation, then the SD card is full and does not save picture captured anymore. In this case, you are in luck since all to do is free up the memory by deleting unwanted photos/videos or reformatting the card.

Wrong SD card: If you use a cheap SD card, it might suddenly stop working at any time. On the other hand, using too high-speed or top-end cards might also cost battery life and cause the trail camera not taking pictures. That time, purchasing the SD card suggested by the manufacturer is the best choice.

Defective SD card installation: One thing I do not like about some newly-launched game cameras is they support Micro SD card. It makes me hard to handle and sometimes put the SD in the wrong position. Hence, ensure that the memory card is installed in the right place, so all functions work correctly, including taking pictures. Do not forget to reformat the card before you re-install it in the camera.

Environmental Sensitivity

Believe it or not, where to place the trail camera affects how it works. If you hang the camera due east or west, it might not take pictures. In a too hot or too cold day, you might get nothing as well.

Why?

It is a must to know – Trail camera operates off the head, motions, and trigger capacity. The direct rising or setting sunlights ruin the lens’ detection ability, meaning the camera impossible capture the motion nearby and fail to take pictures. Also, on the cold day when the temperature differs between the object and air around. That time, the camera will pick up things farther away. On the other side, the detection range is shorter on the hot weather.

Here come solutions:

Face your trail camera either South or North whenever possible.

Hang the camera at cool, dry, and open areas

Choose a waterproof and dustproof camera to protect the vision of the game camera

Detection Problems

The worst reason results in the trail camera not taking pictures is the detection errors. A triggering event happens once the sensors detect a change caused by motion or heat. Accordingly, if the camera can not catch anything, it will not shoot a photo. Take an example: a deer is passing by right in front of the camera’s capturing range from times to times. However, your game camera just occasionally takes pictures or even misses every time. Then the detection feature might be defective.

The trail camera is not taking photos as it detects nothing

That time, try resetting your trail camera, as well as customizing the motion settings. If it still does not work, take it to a professional and have it fixed for you.

To Wrap It Up

Do not worry too much in case of the trail camera not taking pictures, check every part I mentioned above and you might fix it yourselves. Have you ever got into such the situation, but for other reasons not mentioned here? If yes, feel free to share it down below – in the comment section.

Trail cameras are one of its kinds and pose a great example of transforming devices. It has not just changed the way people hunt but has enabled deeper penetration into the wildlife which manually might not be possible and safe. Although, the trail cameras are a beneficial way of hunting and researching the wildlife, it […]

Trail cameras are one of its kinds and pose a great example of transforming devices. It has not just changed the way people hunt but has enabled deeper penetration into the wildlife which manually might not be possible and safe. Although, the trail cameras are a beneficial way of hunting and researching the wildlife, it is not a magical device that just records and presents everything in front of you. There are techniques and tricks that would help you achieve better results in terms of quality of pictures and videos recorded and accuracy in terms of being close to your expectations. So let us reveal a few techniques that might sound and look simple, but would result in amazing changes in the way you use and get results out of trail cameras.

Few tricks…

Away from sun: Never place your trail cameras facing towards sun. This is because constant exposure to the sun leads to change in temperatures along with the summer or spring breeze which leads to movement and game changing, resulting in clicking pictures of falling leaving and moving vegetation. You shall waste a lot of time and space on your memory card with junk pictures and videos.

Software and firmware: All trail cameras work on software like computers or laptops. When you plan to deploy any trail camera for your hunt or research, always make a point to check the authenticity and accuracy of the firm ware it is working on to prevent regretting later.

Manualtime stamp: Now all the cameras come with time stamp in each of its pictures and videos, but earlier, there were no time stamps. In case you planning to fix multiple cameras, better would be to number them and their SD cards so that you do not get confused later on and have the chronological order ready.

Minimize visits:We all know our enthusiasm and interests would attract us to the cameras to check if they are placed properly and are working correctly due to which we have an urge to visit the place periodically. But this constant check might actually backfire because your frequent presence is vulnerable to be detected by animals which might make them alert and they would not behave in their natural ways. This would render the entire effort and planning useless. Also, when you really need to visit the place, try to be as odorless as possible like without scents, no shoes odor etc.

Ideal locations: Depending upon which animal you are hunting or researching, there would be certain pre-established concept about them, like wandering in the night around food or water areas. So you could place your cameras in areas that are close to food or water sources which would enhance confrontation of these trail cameras with the animal you are looking for.

Placing cameras at angle of trails: Older areas would have pre-determined or found trails of existing animals. Instead of focusing on the animal source, place your cameras focusing on the trail, which would give longer time to click them while they are still walking on their trails instead of just covering a few wide animal locations.

Reduce lens and sensor obstructions:Obstructions like bushes or trees right in front of the lens or sensors might hinder their performance and the pictures might not be clear enough to be useful. Even sensors might not detect till the animal comes near as compared to their original capability.

Target the same: If you are trying to understand a particular animal kind, then by using the time lapse cameras try and identify the possible trails. Once you have identified the trails, then target only one particular animal on that trail for deeper and distinct understanding using trail cameras.

Cover up:To save the cameras from possible thefts, you now get many enclosures that cover the devices and make it look like the surrounding area. This might save the theft and also the animals from detecting the presence of the camera which would offer better results.

Conclusion

These are few extremely intricate details but if followed correctly would offer you very accurate results beneficial for hunting or wildlife researches.

Hanging trail cameras at one secret location for one whole year would give you a lot of pictures and videos, but would do no good in terms of your research. Trail cameras should be targeted at the animal you are looking for all the time. We all know that with time and seasons changing, the […]

Hanging trail cameras at one secret location for one whole year would give you a lot of pictures and videos, but would do no good in terms of your research. Trail cameras should be targeted at the animal you are looking for all the time. We all know that with time and seasons changing, the animal behavior in terms of their home locations, food and water sources and shelters also changes. Animals wander from one place to another, from season to season. Hence, to track them in a complete way, we need to understand the animal behavior, their lifecycle and lay down the trail camera strategies accordingly. These cameras should not be left at just one location. Rather, they should be moved as the animal moves with changing seasons. Then we would be getting a holistic view.

Spring strategy

In springs, the best bait that would work would be the salt blocks. Mineral sites always attract bucks and does, and many others of its kind. Placing salt blocks would bring the animals close to your trail camera and you could see the entire herd gradually and analyze the addition or reduction of the members in the group. Such analytic information collected over months would help you to a great extent to understand and penetrate the lifestyle of your target animal.

Summer strategy

As the summer approaches, the best bait and attraction for wildlife would be the water sources. The abundant water sources and locations should not be missed out in summers by your trail cameras. Also, in summers, wildlife comes out at night to look out for food, so covering the edges of the fields by your trail cameras would be a great idea.

Strategy for commencement of fall season

As the fall season is about to begin, the greener and lush areas and locations that seemed ideal in summers would now begin to change with leaves drying and falling, which would gradually convert such areas in to dry and scarce areas. This is the time when you also need to move your cameras from these areas. In this season also, the food and water sources, bedding areas, trail and assembly points, all will change and hence the first ideal bait again would be the food and water sources.

Mating season strategy

In this season, the movement of animals is reduced and they look out for secluded areas for safety. Camera positions should be changed just before this season in the entire possible border and other secluded areas so that the animals do not feel the presence of any intrusion through our cameras. This season marks a very important stage for your analysis and research as during this time you would start to witness the change in population of the animals. Areas like huge logs of woods, old wooden houses, saddles or edges are ideal mating areas where you can hang your cameras in.

Winter season

Winter season is the season of getting new environment and surroundings. It is the time for the wildlife to again concentrate on food sources as the mating processes are done. It is time for them to wander about and look out for food and water sources. Though you shift your cameras back to the old and new food areas, placing one in the mating locations would be better as there would be a few who were not able to successfully breed out and are still in search. It might help you record the animal behavior in the changing season’s time.

To sum it all…!

In all the seasons, ideal placement and shifting of cameras would help gradually cover the complete lifecycle and changing behavioral patterns of the selected wildlife. Remember to place the correct baits at the appropriate season, accurate angles of the cameras and avoid spooking that would disturb the animals and their natural behaviors. Changing strategy with the changing season would ensure a perfect plan for hunters and researchers and would serve as a strong base for future activities.

Conclusion

There are a number of different features in today’s trail cameras that helps you adapt to the target animal and the surrounding environment. You just need to exploit them wisely to suit your needs.

Any hunting or wildlife related forum, videos, shows or platform will have some relation to the trail cameras. Trail cameras have been so widely accepted and adopted that without them, there could not be any activity carried out. Although, where trail cameras are prevalent for its advanced benefits, there are also a few downsides to […]

Any hunting or wildlife related forum, videos, shows or platform will have some relation to the trail cameras. Trail cameras have been so widely accepted and adopted that without them, there could not be any activity carried out. Although, where trail cameras are prevalent for its advanced benefits, there are also a few downsides to it. So let us evaluate both the perspectives of the trail cameras in order to understand the device thoroughly and its utility to be able to exploit the cameras to best of its capability.

Benefits

Prolonged seasons – hunting seasons will start and end at their designated scheduled times, and so has to be the hunting process. Due to these trail cameras and their long continuous battery lives, you can enjoy the hunting experience in the off seasons too. Suppose you take off during winters as it is not feasible for you to hunt then, but you could find your favorite wildlife at those times of the year. Well, the opportunity cannot be missed, if you fix your trail cameras in this season and watch your favorite wildlife through these cameras. They give you a feel of being close to reality that you feel you are actually hunting.

Simplified exploring – imagine owning a farm house somewhere close to natural forests with scenic beauty and wildlife all around. Can there be any place better that can excite a hunter. For a normal person, going to farm houses could be a vacation, but for hunter it is their passion. The problem is that hunting and scouting takes a considerable amount of time, which is way too long as compared to holidays or vacation. Also, farm houses are really far from your own houses, so visiting them regularly is also a problem.

In such cases, placing trail cameras on your farm houses could help you maintain contact with the area and its life 24 by 7 allowing you to enjoy every single moment without having visited the farm house.

Penetration – professional hunters and wildlife experts aim at gathering maximum information about this natural life. The depth of such information is researched when, they get access to old aged animals, their life patterns etc. This can be done only through trail cameras as these old aged animals come may be once in a year or two. This is particularly a long phase of time, which cannot be afforded to be missed out.

Live telecast – trail cameras provide access to live telecast of animal habitats and their lifestyles for broadcasting them on television shows, which in today’s time are a big business opportunity.

Disadvantages

Narrow scope – though these trail cameras are able to deal with your long term recording and capturing of wildlife, you need to constantly understand, that they are covering a fixed area only. They are not able to provide you a complete view of all angles of the wildlife, which is possible only if you are physically present there or you have multiple cameras placed there covering all the angles.

Costly – when it comes to covering all the angles of the forest, buying multiple cameras are the only solution, which could turn out to be highly expensive. Also, it is prevalently known, that the level at which these cameras are placed at is as high as the level at which these cameras are stolen from the aloof areas. The theft of trail cameras is the biggest and costliest hurdle in terms of covering wildlife photographs and videos.

Temptation – once you have set in your trail cameras at desired location, in spite of the fact that you could view the live recording, there is a temptation of checking the camera every few days. This temptation leads to spending unnecessary amount of energy and money.

Conclusion

Trail cameras have very strong benefits. Even though they have a few downsides, they are more of risks which to some extent could be fighter against. Trail cameras have laid significant difference in the types of information gathered and the techniques of hunting or penetrating wildlife. With such great advancements, few downsides could surely be neglected as far as adopting the use of these trail cameras on regular basis is concerned.

]]>https://trailcamerajudge.com/advantages-and-disadvantages-of-trail-cameras-2/feed/0Deer Hunting Season 2017: When to Hunt and How to Prepare for Ithttps://trailcamerajudge.com/deer-hunting-season/
https://trailcamerajudge.com/deer-hunting-season/#respondSun, 08 Oct 2017 01:22:43 +0000http://trailcamerajudge.com/?p=2026

Finally, deer hunting season is coming around, but are you prepared for it? Or do you even know when the deer hunting season is in your respective state? Well, we are here to provide you with a complete list of deer hunting season dates for the most popular locations for hunting. This way, you can […]

Finally, deer hunting season is coming around, but are you prepared for it? Or do you even know when the deer hunting season is in your respective state? Well, we are here to provide you with a complete list of deer hunting season dates for the most popular locations for hunting. This way, you can stay informed and be well-ready for your next great hunting trip.

Deer hunting season varies per state and per region. As a hunter, you need to be responsible enough to know when deer hunting is allowed in the particular area you plan on going to, how many you are allowed to bag, and what time you are allowed to hunt in that specific area.

Moreover, if you are going to hunt in a different location, the same rules apply. Do your research and get your license from the local wildlife office so that you don’t run into any problem while hunting. With that, here are the deer hunting seasons in the most popular locations for hunting:

When is Deer Hunting Season in Texas?

Texas is a huge state and can offer hunters a variety of wildlife to hunt.

In the state of Texas, you can hunt alligators, pronghorn, and javelina aside from deer which is great if you want to diversify your game. As for the deer hunting season: You can start hunting white-tailed deer from September 30 to November 3 with bows or spears, and November 4 to January 21 with firearms. For mule deer, the general season goes from November 18 to December 10 if using firearms and September 30 to November 3 for bows.

The state also allows a special late season that goes from January 8 to February 4, and it promotes a youth hunt which goes from October 28-29 and January 8-21.

Moreover, if you purchase a public hunting license from the wildlife department, you can enjoy hunting in one million acres of land all-year round and hunt to your heart’s content.

When is Deer Hunting Season in Ontario?

If you can head on over to Ontario or if you are a native Canadian, you can find a lot of game like deer, elk, and black bears apart from the variety of small game. Ontario offers strict rules on deer hunting and the schedules depend on specific areas. You can find deer hunting season schedules for 2017-2018 here: Ontario Hunting Regulations

When is Deer Hunting Season in North Carolina?

North Carolina offers ecosystems with dense woods and woody landscape that can be beneficial to hunters. The state contains bigger game like black bears and deer. Aside from these big game, you can also try your luck at hunting armadillos, pheasants, quail, wild turkey and other smaller game.

Deer hunting season in North Carolina varies by region. In the Eastern region, you can start hunting from October 14 to January 1 when using guns; September 9 to 29 for archers. Central region deer hunting season begins at November 11 and ends on January 1 (for guns) and September 9 to October 27 for archers.

Northwestern season is from November 18 to January 1 (guns); September 9 to November 3 for archery, while Western season goes from November 20 to December 9 (again, for guns) and September 9 to October 1 and October 15 to November 19 (archery).

The state also offers a Youth Deer Hunting Day which was held on September 23 for this year.

When is Deer Hunting Season in Michigan?

Another great hunting location for hunters is the beautiful state of Michigan. You can hunt a lot of animals in this state including deer, elk, bear, turkey, wolf, and other big and small game. Of course, the dates of hunting season will vary by region but you can start hunting deer from November 15 to 30 with regular firearms.

If you are using bows, you can hunt from October 1 to November 14 as well as from December 1 to January 1. Muzzleloaders can be used from December 1 to 17 only, while the late antlerless hunting season goes from December 18 to January 1 (with firearms).

Again, the specific dates will vary per region or zone so make sure to double-check with the wildlife office. There are also special schedules like the Liberty Hunt (September 16 to 17) and Independence Hunt (October 19 to 22).

A good tip if you are hunting in this state is to use their Mi-HUNT, which is a mapping tool designed for hunters that can allow you to find hunting areas that are made public all throughout the state.

An antlerless deer

When is Deer Hunting Season in Minnesota?

Minnesota is known among hunters as one of the best locations for hunting. In this state, you can find deer, wolf, bobcat, and a wide variety of smaller animals to hunt. However, the state has banned moose hunting due to a drop in the animals’ population.

In this state, deer hunting season with firearms begins on October 19 and ends at November 26. For archers, you can hunt deer from September 16 to December 31. However, you still need to double check the dates because they will vary per area.

If you want to hunt in Minnesota, you can easily get your license online or from the DENR. The prices of hunting licenses may vary per season, the type of animal, and special standings.

When is Deer Hunting Season in Ohio?

If you are looking for deer, turkey, wild boar, and pheasants, the state of Colorado has a variety of great wildlife that can be up for grabs.

The deer hunting season in Ohio will depend on the weapon you are using. For firearms, the schedule runs on November 27 to December 3 and December 16 to 17. Archers can hunt from September 30 to February 4. Make sure to check the bag limits implemented in the area as well.

You can also easily check in bagged game online if you are hunting in Ohio. If you want to purchase a hunting license in this state, you can easily do so online as well. The same goes for registering for license lotteries.

When is Deer Hunting Season in Connecticut?

Connecticut is small, but you can still have fun hunting in this state.

The game often found in Connecticut are turkey, deer, and waterfowl. If you use bows, you can start hunting deer by September 15 and the season ends by January 31. For firearm users, deer hunting season in Connecticut goes from November 15 to December 5. As for muzzleloader users, hunting season is only from December 6 to the 30th.

Unfortunately, the state doesn’t allow black bears to be hunted. On the upside, there is a wide variety and big population of waterfowl to be hunted.

When is Deer Hunting Season in Delaware?

The state of Delaware is one of the most bountiful places for deer. Yes, it is small but it is called the ‘Small Wonder’ state for a reason. In the previous hunting seasons, hunters have harvested almost 15,000 deer.

Want to join in on the deer hunting scene of Delaware? Here are the hunting season schedule for deer: Archers are allowed to hunt from September 1 to January 31 while shotguns are allowed from November 10-19 and January 13-20.

Handguns and muzzleloaders can be used at these dates, respectively: January 6 to 13 and October 6-14 plus January 22-27. Moreover, the state also allows a Youth and Disability Hunt to be held on November 4.

Before you hunt in the state, make sure to check the hunting times that are allowed.

When is Deer Hunting Season in Indiana?

Indiana is known for its farmland, but did you know that you can also hunt a variety of game here? The state has populations of small game like turkey, squirrels, grouse, and others. Trapping can also be done for foxes, coyotes, raccoons, and other fur-bearing animals.

For deer hunting season in Indiana specifically, the schedule runs from November 18 to December 3 if you are using firearms. For archers, the schedule is from October 1 to January 7. The state also allows a special antlerless season that goes from December 26 to January 7.

A pro of hunting in this state is that Indiana offers an application called CheckIN Game which can allow hunters to register their bagged game. There is also a special program being done in the state called Hunters Helping Farmers, which allows hunters to help farmers by getting rid of unwanted antlerless deer from the landowners’ properties.

The state also has a Reduction Hunt (used to be Urban Hunt) which goes from September 15 to January 31.

How to Prepare for Deer Hunting Season

Check if you have all the things you need

Do you feel excited for the deer hunting season like we are? Speaking from experience, it pays to be prepared before going on a hunting trip. More so, the preparation is only the half of the fun, right? Here’s what you need to do to prepare for the upcoming deer hunting season.

Step 1: Do your research

Do you know when the deer hunting season begins and ends in the area you are targeting? If you still don’t and we haven’t mentioned the state above, you can look it up on the net or check up with the local wildlife department or office.

However, you still need to make sure with the local wildlife office to know the specific deer hunting season dates for that region or zone.

If you are a beginner hunter or a novice hunter, it is also a good idea to read up on deer, deer behavior and other factors that can help you kill one, especially the fatal spots where you need to shoot. We recommend reading up on tracking, stalking, and shooting among others.

Step 2: Prepare your gear

A good way to make sure you will have the deer hunting season of your life is to prepare your gear accordingly. If possible, spend the rest of the year off-season saving up for high quality gear and equipment that are both durable and functional.

Get your hunting backpack and vehicle ready, deck yourself out with equipment and weapons, and then prepare yourself physically and mentally for the trip. Part of preparation is also acquiring your hunting license and whatnot, as well as gathering up a few friends that you want to take on your trip.

Step 3: Make sure you are ready

We know you are excited for the upcoming deer hunting season, that is why we want you to be prepared. Here is an article on deer hunting tips to help you out. If you have friends or colleagues that are experienced in deer hunting as well, you can also ask for tips that you can use for your trip.

Conclusion

The deer hunting season has already started in some states, and is upcoming for other areas or regions. As a hunter, it is helpful to know the deer hunting season schedules so that you can have ample time preparing and so you can gauge your own schedule. A good tip is to steer clear from days that are sure to see a lot of hunters out in the field. However, you should not start out too late as the deer population may be already spooked from the number of hunters roaming around.

It also pays to be prepared to your utmost before going on a hunting trip. We hope you learned a lot from this article and hope that you hunt legally. If you liked this article, feel free to share it with your other hunting friends that may be interested.

If you have any questions or comments, do leave them in the comments below. Thanks for reading!

If you’re going to be using a trail camera for scouting and even home security purposes, the last thing you want to happen is to have it stolen. Good quality trail cameras don’t come cheap, but even if they do come cheap, you still don’t want other people to steal them. To keep your trail […]

If you’re going to be using a trail camera for scouting and even home security purposes, the last thing you want to happen is to have it stolen. Good quality trail cameras don’t come cheap, but even if they do come cheap, you still don’t want other people to steal them. To keep your trail camera secure, here are a few tips on how to keep trail camera from being stolen.

How to Keep Trail Camera from Being Stolen

So you’ve bought your trail camera, you’ve read the instruction manual, and you’re about to set it up in a good spot where a lot of deer pass through. But how do you keep your trail camera from being taken by petty thieves and other hunters who are too cheap to buy their own? Well, this section can give you a few good tips to prevent that from happening.

1. Set them up high

A higher elevation will do the trick.

A good strategy to keep your trail camera out of the line of sight is to set them up higher than you normally would and angling the camera downwards so that you still get your pictures. When the camera is out of plain sight, there is less chance of a passerby seeing it and possibly taking interest in it.

Moreover, even if a person passing by sees your trail camera and takes interest, there is a chance that he won’t be a good enough climber to reach your camera and take it. Still, some people may do the effort of climbing up a tree to steal a camera, but setting it up higher than normal would put most people off.

2. Use a lock box

Get a lock box.

There are a lot of commercially-available safety boxes or lock boxes that come in handy when you want to prevent theft and weathering. Most companies that make trail cameras also make lock boxes that are compatible with their devices. So before purchasing a trail camera, you may want to look into their lock boxes and order it along with the camera.

Lock boxes take more time to install and you have to put in a padlock on there, but the peace of mind that comes with using a secure lock box is worth it. Moreover, you can protect your valuable trail camera from any bears that may scratch or bite at it.

3. Camouflage it

Have the trail camera blend in.

Making a trail camera blend with its surroundings is also a good strategy to hide it from plain sight of thieves and vandalizers. You have a lot of options when it comes to camouflaging your trail camera. Firstly, you can choose to buy a trail camera that already comes in a camo-print design, or you can paint a design of your own.

Secondly, you can use branches, leaves, vines, etc. to conceal your trail camera from plain view. This will make it blend it further with the surroundings and lessen chances of theft. Moreover, it won’t spook deer since they will see it as a natural part of their surroundings.

4. Use hiding spots

You can use a bird house to hide the camera

Another good way of hiding your trail camera aside from camouflaging it is to use smart hiding spots. When you are in the woods, scope out for a hollow tree or dead stump to hide your trail camera in.

On the other hand, if you are using your trail camera for security purposes, thieves are less likely to look at a birdhouse or hanging flower pot for a security camera. Use your creativity to find good hiding spots for your trail cameras. You can even use fake rocks if you’d like!

5. Use extra precaution

Say you’ve already purchased a lock box for your trail camera and had it installed successfully. Persistent thieves may still be able to get to it. You can discourage potential thieves from stealing your trail camera by adding extra locks on it, such as a cable lock or chain that will be extra hard to cut or destroy.

Moreover, you can also purchase no-cut padlocks or no-cut chains that are specially made to be virtually unbreakable. They are more expensive, though, but they will provide extra security for your trail camera.

6. Report thieves

If you do catch a thief with your trail camera, you should report it immediately to the authorities. However, let’s hope that your camera captured a clear image of what they look like so you can have better chances of getting your trail camera back.

Conclusion

Keeping your trail camera secure is a preliminary step to a theft-free experience. Those trail cameras don’t come cheap, so you should take the extra steps to keep them as theft-proof as possible. Hopefully, this article on how to keep trail camera from being stolen helped you on that.

If you liked this article, do give us a share and a comment. Thanks for reading!

There are two main reasons why you want to hide your trail camera from plain sight. First of all, if you are using it to monitor game activity, you certainly don’t want other hunters to spot it and possibly tamper with it or take it. The second reason is for those who are using trail […]

There are two main reasons why you want to hide your trail camera from plain sight. First of all, if you are using it to monitor game activity, you certainly don’t want other hunters to spot it and possibly tamper with it or take it. The second reason is for those who are using trail cameras for home security: you definitely don’t want possible intruders to spot your camera and successfully evade it. Thus, here is an article on how to camouflage a trail camera easily and effectively.

How to Camouflage a Trail Camera

1. Make it blend in with the environment

Trail camera with camo print

Some trail cameras come in a camouflage print design. These trail cameras are specifically made to blend in with the environment in the woods, where you would set it up to monitor game activity.

Using a camera that can blend in with the environment can prevent other hunters from seeing it and possibly stealing it or messing with it. If you already have a trail camera but it doesn’t come with a camo print, there are hard cases available for trail cameras that have the good ol’ camouflage print.

2. Make them quiet and invisible

So you will be able to take awesome pictures like this

Do not use flashes or any type of camera mode that produces light. Some models of trail cameras are also quieter than the others, so make sure you listen to the device while it is running before purchasing it.

3. Hang them high

Place them at a higher elevation.

As much as possible, you should place your trail cameras in a higher position than usual if you want to lessen the chances of theft or vandalism. This tip is effective for both thieves and deer, since the camera will be out of the line of sight.

Generally, hanging the trail camera about six feet high and angling them downwards provide better results.

4. Hide cameras in hollows of trees or old stumps

A good hiding spot.

If you happen to find a perfect spot for surveillance with a nearby tree or old stump, you can create your own pocket in the tree where the wood is mostly rotten. If you happen to find a good spot, create a space for your trail camera and you will have a special and easily concealed place for your trail camera.

5. Place dummy cameras

Buy a dummy trail camera

If thieves happen to go to the woods in search of a trail camera specifically, then hanging a dummy one can prevent them from spotting or looking further for your real trail camera.

6. Get rid of older models

It’s time for an upgrade.

Older models of trial cameras are often bigger and bulkier, leading them to being seen more easily than the newer, much smaller models. Moreover, older models run louder and generally produce more light, which can easily announce their presence to both humans and animals.

Technology for trail cameras today are superb and they cost way less than they did before. Why not splurge a bit and replace your older model with a new one?

7. Make an artificial hiding spot

Buy a birdhouse or build one.

If you can’t find a good enough hiding spot for your trail camera that is natural, you can make your own out of fake material. For instance, you can make a fake stump using a flower pot and gluing moss and natural flora on there. Fake rocks are also available in home improvement stores.

For home use, trail cameras can also be placed in bird house or bird feeders. You can either build one of your own or buy one at a store.

8. Do not put it in high traffic places for humans

Install them in more secluded areas

A common mistake that hunters often make is placing their trail cameras in spots that often get human visitors. If the traffic is from animals, then that’s great, but if you place your trail camera in trails or spots that people usually pass through, then there is a higher chance of it getting stolen or vandalized.

To prevent this from happening, you should survey the area and place the trail camera in places where people are unlikely to pass through, such as off the main trails.

Conclusion

This article taught you a few tips on how to camouflage a trial camera, which is an essential part in keeping them secure. Do these tips and surely, your trail camera has lesser chance of getting stolen or tampered with.

If you like this article, don’t forget to leave a comment and share this with your friends. Thanks for reading!

One of the biggest dreams a deer hunter has is to bring in the biggest buck he can find. Accomplishing such a feat is not easy and it might take years, even, decade’s worth of experience to be able to bag the big one. This was the case a few years ago. With the advent […]

One of the biggest dreams a deer hunter has is to bring in the biggest buck he can find. Accomplishing such a feat is not easy and it might take years, even, decade’s worth of experience to be able to bag the big one.

This was the case a few years ago.

With the advent of modern technology, knowledge sharing has become easier and best practices are now accessible to everybody who knows what he’s looking for. Of course, best practices need some time to get used to and no one becomes an expert after watching a video or reading an article. Experiencing real world conditions is always the best way to go right after gaining theoretical knowledge on deer hunting.

Tips and Tricks

Deer is a harder target than other game given their natural speed and agility. But do not get discouraged, here are some tips and tricks that hunters use to level the playing field.

Track the Game – Study deer feeding habits and look out for droppings. Depending on how fresh the tracks are, these can pinpoint where deer eat and sleep. Freshly gnawed plants often have their tops chomped on and grass or weed used are bedding are often flattened consistent to the size of the deer. Resting areas and watering holes should not be disturbed or altered in any way as sudden changes in their habitat will scare them away.

Install Trail Cameras – Trail cameras are becoming a hunter’s best friend and it is always advisable to have five or six installed around the hunting grounds. Trail cameras provide hunters with important information like the size of the herd, recent movements, age and other demographic data.

Hunt Smart – Make the deer come to the hunter. Hunters, who happen to be property owners, often use feeders to attract deer and make them stay.

Feeding the game – Deer can eat anything but most hunters prefer laying our apples, pears, some grain and packaged feed. Some hunters note that peanut butter and deer cane gel works in attracting the big ones. Mix them up in a bucket and spread them near watering holes and game trails.

Leave the Small Fry – Be patient. Do not shoot everything that comes within sight. Identify the members of the herd if possible and aim to lure the biggest buck. Does should not be hunted as much as possible as they will provide the next generation of fawns.

Use the Terrain – Deer would know the lay of the land better than the hunter but it should not stop anyone to taking advantage of what is around him. Use tree stands to get the higher ground and keep above the deer eyesight. Hunters using bow and arrow often use these to add more killing power to their shots.

Mask Scents – Deer have a very sharp sense of smell and they can smell humans from far away. Mask the human smell by washing clothes in special hunting detergent or use baking soda as an alternative. Pine needles can also be rubbed on clothing to camouflage the smell.

Timing – A study was made on deer hunting and it showed that the biggest bucks often fall between 10AM and 2PM. This would not always be the case but timing is everything when it comes to hunting.

Anticipate – A good hunter should know how his prey moves. Deer are singular creatures and they head towards a single direction when they know they’re being hunted. Away. In order to catch the big bucks, follow their movement and take aim a few paces ahead of their direction, once they are on sight, shoot.

Preparation is Everything – Practice makes perfect and this applies to hunting. Practice shooting skills during off-season and learn to be more confident. Any tool will prove useless if the hunter is not proficient and confident in using it.

Sustaining the deer population is also important as it will make sure that there are deer to hunt each and every season. Going after the big one takes a lot of preparation and an even bigger amount of patience. Practice and prepare during off season, stalk and anticipate when the hunt begins.

Ever since it was first introduced, trail cameras have redefined the way hunters identify and track game. From being a fancy supplement, continuous development in trail camera technology gave this nifty tool into an important slot in the modern hunters’ arsenal. Like any gadget, trail cameras are an investment and it is just right to […]

Ever since it was first introduced, trail cameras have redefined the way hunters identify and track game. From being a fancy supplement, continuous development in trail camera technology gave this nifty tool into an important slot in the modern hunters’ arsenal.

Like any gadget, trail cameras are an investment and it is just right to know what to look for before purchasing the first set of cameras.

But where does one start?

There are many players in the trail camera market but all of come with almost the same features but it’s in all the details, and details are everything in a trail camera. Over times, these details improve as prices go lower and knowing their differences comes into play when deciding which one to buy.

Standard Features

Basic, entry-level models come with the following key features:

Picture Quality

Picture quality doesn’t just involve the number of megapixels that a camera has, this metric also takes into consideration the clarity of the picture, the color composition and how it contrasts the subject with the foreground and the background.

Resolution is measured by megapixels and the notion that the higher the megapixels count the better the quality is a false notion that marketers use to make customers think otherwise. The resolution works together with the other features to give the best image the camera can capture.

Checking trail camera picture quality involves looking at picture online and comparing them. Outdoor shops also have units available for testing that customers can take sample pictures with to judge the quality of the picture.

Night Mode

Probably the most important feature in a trail camera, the ability to record and capture images at night is what gives trail cameras the edge when it comes to tracking. The perfect trail camera should have either infrared or black LED flash. Bulb-type camera flash can scare wildlife away when it takes pictures at night. Game especially nocturnal ones are sensitive to sudden bursts of light and, as a result, they will scatter and probably never go back to where the trail camera is.

It is understandable that night pictures would have significantly less quality in the images it captures but the photos should still be crisp and clear within acceptable range. Some cameras can eliminate red-eye from the subject but this is an optional feature.

Video quality

Videos are a newly added feature to trail cameras and most of them would have the option to select the length of the video. Others would also include the option to go HD or VGA with their recordings. Check the quality of the video in both day and night modes, the video playback should be clear and blur-free.

Time Lapse

Time lapse videos are taken even when the sensors are not triggered and the output would be a video of the landscape but at a higher speed setting. For example, the camera would record for 8 hours but the resulting time lapse video would only be about 10 seconds. This is an optional feature for hunters are they are more focuses on the hunt rather than playing with video effects.

Power Consumption

Almost all trail cameras run on 8 AA batteries but not all of them would have the same consumption rating. Some would have a power saving feature while some would have many features that would use up the juice on the batteries at a faster rate. Ideally, fresh batteries should be able to take about 16,000 pictures before draining out.

Memory

Most trail cameras would have built-in memory already, however small, but the unit itself should be able to support at least a 32GB SD Card. The external SD card has the advantage over the internal memory especially when downloading the captured images. SD Cards can simply be removed from the device and plugged into a computer whereas an internal memory camera would require removing it from the mount, and storage unit, and then plugging it in which translates to time and effort lost.

Detection Circuit

The Detection Circuit is what detects game passing in from of the camera and is also the same mechanism that takes the picture or video and records it. Here are its components:

Trigger Time – once a wild animal enters into the detection zone, the amount of time used to snap the picture is called Trigger Time.

Recovery Time – after a camera triggers the lens and memory would need some time to store the recently captured picture and prepare for the next one, this is called Recovery time.

Sensors – these are what detects game in front of the camera and gives the signal to the mechanism to take the picture. Trail cameras often use infrared sensors.

Detection Zone – this is the maximum range that the sensors can detect movement. This also correlates to the effective distance of the camera lens.

Simply put, the detection circuit is the trail camera and the faster the trigger and recovery time the better. A wider detection zone would also be ideal for a trail camera.

Advanced Features

Higher end models have some advanced features that can include:

Remote Access – this provide hunters the ability to check on the images captured at the comfort of their homes, camps or offices.

Viewfinder – this is slowly becoming a standard among trail cameras. This allows the hunter to view images and videos without connecting the unit to a computer. This also acts as the menu screen for the unit.

Price

Each year the price of parts go down as components gets smaller and easier to manufacture and this also brings down the standard price of new trail cameras. Nowadays, it is not unheard of to have a good quality camera to be priced at less than $200.

Brand Recognition

There are many brands to choose from with the same features but read about customer feedback and see which brand brings in more customer loyalty than others. This is indicative of a good quality product.

Putting It Together

Buying any gadget is never easy and it is important that everything is considered before making the purchase. Things like trail cameras are an investment in the long run, and buying the right one is dependent on how closely one looks at the details of the product.

Mount and Secure Them Trail cameras have become an important part of a hunter’s arsenal and they are often left on their own in the woods. That is what they were made for in any case but they do not come cheap, especially the high-end models. Recently, trail camera theft has increased and this is […]

Mount and Secure Them

Trail cameras have become an important part of a hunter’s arsenal and they are often left on their own in the woods. That is what they were made for in any case but they do not come cheap, especially the high-end models. Recently, trail camera theft has increased and this is why proper mounting and keeping them secure is important for modern hunters.

Faith in Humanity

Most of the time, trail cameras are left hanging on a tree and hunters place their trust on the hunters’ moral code and hope that nobody steals their equipment. This sometimes works but there are several unscrupulous hunters who often trespass into another’s territory not just to steal their hunt but also to steal their equipment.

What to do:

There are several ways to keep your trail cameras secure; this can go from mounting them correctly to adding some security features that will deter any attempt to steal it. The main goal is to mount them and secure so that it doesn’t get stolen or damaged by animals.

What’s in it for you?

There are many benefits of mounting your trail cameras securely.

First off, you get to sleep at night knowing that your equipment will still be there when you go back to check on the pictures.

Secondly, you get your peace of mind knowing that it will never get stolen and that your precious data will still be there when you need it to track that big buck.

And lastly, your equipment will not get stolen, that’s the true benefit of this exercise. You get to protect your investment, not just against other humans but also against curious animals that have been recorded while destroying cameras that violate their territory.

Mount it and ride with it.

Out of the Box

Most trail cameras would have instructions included with the box that it is shipped with and majority of these would have your standard nuts and bolts, while some would include a Python lock in the deal.

It is always best to follow these instructions as different companies would sometimes have different ways of mounting their cameras. Some would require special equipment, while some would only take a couple of steps.

DIY

Do-it-yourself projects are a fast growing trend and the ability to customize projects to fit your needs is very much applicable to trail camera mounts. A sample trail camera mount project can cost less than a dollar and you would only need a few screws, nuts and bolts to build it.

One project would require the following items:

1/4″ x 2 1/16″ eye screw

1/4″ x 2 1/2″ eye bolt

3/8″ hex bolt

1/4″ wing nut

3/8″ hex nut

3/8″ flat washers

Insert the eyes of the eye screw and eye bolt into the hex bolt while putting flat washers in between. Tighten the assembly with pliers or a box wrench. Normally, trail cameras would have a slot provision for tripods and this is where you should insert the eye bolt. Adjust the size of the eye bolt to fit the tripod slot.

Attach the mount to a tree or post using the eye screw while using the hex bolt as the pivot to angle your cameras to your desired position.

Another project involves using customized steel stands for the camera mounts.

Secure them now!

Location

The most effective way of securing your trail camera is placing it in a location with minimal human traffic. Game animals would not be present in these locations anyway so it would be best to place your cameras in trails and paths with high game traffic and low human activity.

Another benefit of properly locating your cameras is getting better and more useful photos. Remember, these cameras operate using motion detectors and nobody wants a thousand images of humans crossing in front of the camera, these are just spam for your device and you’d be wasting battery life and maintenance time getting rid of these.

Camouflage

Now, most trail camera models already come in camouflage colors that blend in perfectly with the environment but it does not hurt to add some more embellishments to it. Additional camouflage techniques include:

DIY Nest – Some hunters would craft camera housings out of twigs and branches to make it blend more with the tree. One thing to note when making these is to angle the materials as if it is coming out of the tree. Others would place dried leaves on top and on the side of the housing.

On the Ground – Areas with limited tree foliage benefit from using the terrain to hide the cameras, most hunters from these areas would create a rough rock structure where they could place the cameras inside, while some would add some weeds, lichens and straw around the structure to make it look more natural.

Using the Terrain – Another example of using the inherent terrain is by partially burying the trail camera into the side of a natural wall. Trail cameras are placed into a water proof casing and are embedded into the ground; some would even smear mud across the casing. This makes it hard to access the memory card though.

Improvise – Some models would have a basic gray or brown finish which makes them stand out, this is why some hunters would opt to cover the camera in their own special camouflage, either by attaching lichen or spray painting the unit. You have to be careful though as you might damage the lens or the interior and this can gravely affect camera performance.

Invest

Another thing you can do to secure your cameras is invest in modern security measures like Python Cable locks and Security boxes. While these may be an additional investment and can cost a sizeable amount of money, they are made to protect your equipment from theft and accidental damage.

Python locks ensure that the cameras remain in place no matter how hard the pressure around it increases while security boxes allow you to put in padlocks and chains and whatnots to protect your cameras.

You can also do a DIY security box project from a variety of materials. Some would create a steel cage sized to fit the trail camera while some would go to the extent of fabricating a case out of fiber glass and aluminum, and then spraying the contraption with camouflaging paint.

Sleep Soundly

These are just some back tips and tricks on how you can mount your cameras and protect your investment wisely. Proper mounting, finding the right location and securing them tightly can definitely give you a better peace of mind and enable you to sleep more soundly.